Boiler indicator and alarm



(No Model.)

J. M. WILLIAMS.

BOILER INDICATOR AND ALARM.

No. 326,699. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

Witnesses. inventor:

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NITE STATES PATENT FFrcE.

JOHN M. \VILLIAMS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

i jI-BCIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,699, dated September 22, 1885.

Application filed December 1, 1984. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be itknown that I, JOHN M. WILLIAMs, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boiler Indicators and Alarms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved boiler-indicator, and Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class'of boiler-indicators in which the rise and fall of the water in a steam-boiler operates a signal by means of an intermediate lever-arm attached to a float resting on the water. The float rises and falls with the varying level of the water, and thus actuates the lever.

My invention consists in a certain novel arrangement and combination of the parts of such an indicator when it is adapted to a steam-whistle signal, whereby it is made more sensitive in its operation, simpler, and less liable to get out of order.

In the drawings, A represents a shaft, which passes horizontally into the boiler b from the outside, and is so mounted within a shell or casing, B, as to be revoluble therein on its longitudinal axis. Vithin the boiler b, attached to the inner end of the shaft A, is a lever-arm, C,which extends therefrom preferably at right angles. The lever O terminates in a float, G, of less specific gravity than water, but of considerable weight, so that when it is in the water of the boiler it may rise as the water rises, while as the water falls its own gravity may be sufficient to drop it, and thereby turn the shaft A through the medium of the arm 0. The casing B, within which the shaft A works, fits neatly around the shaft at its forward end, and preferably has a valve seat or shoulder, upon which a bulge or valve, A, seats in such manner as to close the outer joint between the casing and the shaft and to prevent escape of steam from the boiler. Formerly this was done by enlarging the casing at this point, so as to form a stuffingbox; but this has been found to be inconvenient and hurtful in producing increased friction. Back of the valve-seat, to its extremity within the boiler, the diameter of the shell B is somewhat larger than that of the shaft, and is provided with lateral slots or. openings B, through which steam passes from the boiler along the space between the inclosed shaft A and the shell, and thence through a port or chamber, E, communicating with-the shell to a steam-whistle valve, D, which is within the chamber E.

In order that the steam may have constant access to the valve D, I place the tube or casing B within the boiler at a level considerably above that of the normal water-line, so that the water may not enter the tube and choke the whistle. The valve D seats against and closes a passage which communicates with the chamber E and an outer chamber, F, which is a simple continuation of the steam-whistle pipe F. The valve fits against its seat on the inside of the chamber E, and has a valve-stem, D, extending through the walls of the chamber F to the exterior, where it projects. A coiled spring, D, is adjusted upon the valvestem between the valve and the opposite side of the chamber E, and, together with the press ure of steam from'the boiler, exerts a constant pressure on the valve to seat it. It is clear that the valve may be opened by pressing upon the projecting end of the valve-stem, and

that steam will then be free to pass from the boiler through the casing B, port E, and port F to the whistle F. By removing the pressure from the end of-the Valve-stem the force of the steam and of the spring D will immediately reseat the valve and shut off steam from the whistle.

The manner of operating the valve D by automatic action of the float O is as follows: The end of the revoluble shaft A projects some what from the exterior of its casing B, and is provided with two rigid horizontal arms or cams, G G, which extend laterally from opposite sides of the shaft. These arms are preferably made integral with a collar which fits over the end of the shaft, and is secured thereon by a set'screw, G". Pivoted to the shell of the chamber F, below the end of the projecting valve-stem D, is a bellcrank lever, H, one arm of which is in opposition to the end of the valvestcm, while the other arm is forked,

one of the forks, H being directly over the cam G of the shaft A, while the other fork, H, is over the cam G. If, now, the float G be raised from the position shown in Fig. 1 by a rise of water in the boiler, it will turn the shaft A on its axis, and will through it raise the camarm G. In its ascent this cam will engage the fork H of the bell-crank H and will raise it, so that its other arm will force the projecting valve-stem D inward, thereby unseating the valve D and sounding the whistle F. When the float again descends, the pressure of the arm G will be released from the bell-crank lever, and the pressure of the steam will reseat the valve D and stop the whistle. If the float G descends from'its position in Fig. l by reason of the falling of the water in the boiler, a similar result will be effected, for this will turn the shaft A in a reverse direction from that just described, andwill raise the arm G, which will in turn act on the bell-crank through its fork H and will press the valve-stem D inward, to operate the whistle as before. It will be noticed, therefore, that my improved apparatus will indicate either a rise or fall of the water in the boiler by the blowing of a whistle through the same mechanism in either case.

A useful auxiliary to my improved apparatus is shown in the drawings, and consists of an index-finger, I, which is affixed to the collar of the arms G G, and moves over the face of a dial-plate, I, as the shaft A revolves, thus indicating the extent of its motions and the extent of the motions of the float O.

The apparatus is adjusted for use by arranging the lever-arm O at such an inclination to the shaft A that when the water is at the proper height in the boiler and the float O is floating thereupon the arms G G may be horizontal and free from the forks of the bell crank H. It may also be done more simply by allowing the float G and the lever C to be in their proper positions within the boiler, and then adjusting the arms G G in a horizontal position by means of the set-screw G. It is obvious that any material deviation of the float from this position will be indicated by the whistle F, or by the index-finger I.

The limitsof motion of the float 0 possible without moving the valve D and blowing the whistle are determinable either by altering the length of the lever-arm C or of the projecting end of the valve stem D, or of the forks of the bell-crank H.

In order to prevent the escape of steam from the outer end of the casing B, and yet to allow the shaft A to turn freely therein, I fit a spring, A, upon the shaft, between the arms G G thereon and the end of the casing, which continually acts on the shaft, forcing it out ward and pressing the valve A tightly against its seat.

improvement, since it makes a tight joint and This is an important feature of my enables the shaft Ato have a suitable bearing without undue friction. The tension of the spring of the valve-stem D is regulated by means of a set screw, E, which enters the shell of the steam-chamber E and bears upon the spring. A longitudinal hole, D is preferably made in this screw for the working of the inner end of the valve-stem. The indicator is affixed to the boiler b by screw-threading the hole'through which the shell or casing B extends, and similarly threading the outside of the shell, so that these parts may be screwed together and a tight joint obtained. By suitablygraduating the face of the dial-plate I, and relatively adjusting the index-finger I, the depth 'of water contained in the boiler at any time may be accurately indicated. This is obviously of great importance in enabling the engineer to properly measure the water without consulting the usual gage-cocks. The length of the float-arm G and the size of the float C may be conformed to the size of the boiler and the indicator thereby made universally applicable for the purposes described. Of course, any body of less specific gravity than water may be used as a float; but experience has demonstrated that a hollow Inetallic ball is the best suited, because it can be made sufficiently buoyant to operate the shaft A when it rises, and at the same time of sufficient weight to depress it easily. Instead of introducing the steam to the valve D through the hollow casing B, it may enter through an independent pipe or port; but the form shown in the drawings is simple and preferable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a boiler-indicator having a revoluble shaft connected with a float situate within the boiler, the combination of the shoulder A, a casing, B, having a seat against which the shoulder A rests, the springAfland a cam attached to the shaft so as to operate the bellcrank lever H and whistle-valve F by the movement of the shaft on its axis in either direction, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a boiler-indicator having a revoluble shaft connected with a float within the boiler, ardouble cambar, G G, attached to the outer end of the shaft, and a bell-crank lever having the double arms H H, engaging with the arms ofthe cam-bar, and the arm H, engaging with the projecting stem of a self seating whistlevalve, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of November, A. D. 1884.

JOHN M. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS W. BAKEWELL, W. B. CORWIN. 

